Leo is a successful retired corporate consultant and long-time client of your trust company. Widowed for several years and without children of his own, Leo has spent decades carefully building and protecting his financial future. Your team has helped manage his investments, coordinate estate planning, and put important incapacity documents in place.
Over time, however, you begin to notice subtle changes. Leo’s health is declining, he seems increasingly isolated, and conversations that were once straightforward are becoming more difficult. While he has several nieces and nephews, family relationships have become strained over the years — particularly around concerns related to money and inheritance.
Although Leo has completed the appropriate legal and financial documents, concerns remain:
- Who would realistically advocate for him during a healthcare crisis?
- Would family members understand his wishes and quality-of-life priorities?
- Who would help navigate difficult healthcare decisions if he became incapable?
Recognizing these vulnerabilities, your team introduces Leo to Plan Well Guide’s Serious Illness Support Service.
Through a series of guided conversations, Leo works with Dr. Daren Heyland and the Plan Well Guide team to complete an Advance Serious Illness Plan that clearly documents his healthcare values, personal care preferences, and quality-of-life priorities. Together, they also identify and prepare the most appropriate support people to help advocate for Leo if a serious illness occurs.
Because support planning happens proactively — before a crisis — Leo and his support network feel more informed, coordinated, and prepared for future healthcare decision-making.
For your team, the collaboration helps strengthen Leo’s overall incapacity planning by addressing not only the financial and legal aspects of preparedness, but also the human and healthcare realities that can emerge during serious illness and loss of capacity.
This fictional scenario is inspired by common planning concerns faced by people aging independently.
